Salem Witch Trials Daily

Blobs in the Chimney: Burroughs Held at Beadle’s TavernIt’s Thursday, May 5, 1692, and Salem’s tensions escalate and George Burroughs is held at Thomas Beadle’s Tavern, while officials delay his examination until May 9 so William Stoughton and Samuel Sewell can attend—signaling the shift toward the coming Court of Oyer and Terminer under newly arrived Governor William Phips. We follow Elizer Keyser from a wary conversation prompted by Captain Daniel King—who insists Burroughs is a “choice child of God”—to Keyser’s own suspicion that Burroughs is the ringleader. Then the story turns uncanny: Keyser reports a dozen jelly-like “blobs” and a quivering hand-sized light in his chimney, seen by his maid but not his wife, events later sworn to and tied to Burroughs by Mercy Lewis.00:00 Welcome and Date00:16 Burroughs Held at Beadle's00:43 Court of Oyer and Terminer Setup01:56 Concerns About Afflicted Testimony03:01 Keyser Confronts Burroughs04:26 Mysterious Chimney Apparitions05:16 Grand Jury Claims and Wrap Up Links:Statement of Elizer Keyser v. George BurroughsSalem Witch Trials History YouTube⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials: https://aboutsalem.com⁠⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegeHigh Quality Scans of Original Court Documents - Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We take you to May 4, 1692, when Boston holds elections even as the new royal charter for the Province of Massachusetts Bay is about to transform the government. Simon Bradstreet is chosen to remain acting governor until William Phips arrives from London, and Thomas Danforth continues as acting deputy governor until he is replaced by William Stoughton. Our story then turns to 81-year-old Bray Wilkins, who later testifies that John Willard afflicted him during a lunch gathering at Richard Way’s home for travelers heading to the election, leaving Bray in severe misery for days and unable to eat or urinate. We also track the day Field Marshall John Partridge delivers George Burroughs to Salem.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:10 Massachusetts Election Day00:37 Bradstreet and Danforth Roles01:15 Bray Wilkins Affliction01:39 Deposition Details02:39 Agony and Recovery02:52 Burroughs Delivered to Salem02:59 Like Subscribe and Thanks

May 3, 1692: Burroughs’ Specter, a Tavern Transfer, and the Salem Trials’ Only ReleaseSpecters reportedly strike from jail cells and as far away as Maine: we follow May 3, 1692 as Elizabeth Hubbard swears George Burroughs’ apparition visits with the devil’s book and boasts he’s a “conjurer,” even while the real man is under guard en route to Salem. Guards move Susannah Martin, Dorcas Hoar, Lydia Dustin, and Sarah Morrell from Ingersoll’s Tavern breakfast to Boston prison, pushing the total to 28 suspects. Hathorne and Corwin confront Deliverance Hobbs over new spectral harm; she denies it but stands by her confession and describes a feast with Bridget Bishop and three Sarahs. The day also spotlights the trials’ lone catch-and-release—Nehemiah Abbott Jr.—and a chilling family moment as young Daniel Wilkins turns on John Willard before falling ill and dying days later, while Mary Walcott later recalls Rebecca Nurse’s specter claiming multiple killings.00:00 Daily Intro and Date00:28 Burroughs Specter Visit01:10 Prisoners Sent to Boston01:43 Hobbs Questioned Again02:04 Wen Man Mystery02:33 Jail Feast Confession02:48 Willard and Wilkins Omen03:32 Nurse Specter and Wrap Up

May 2, 1692: Burroughs Captured, Hoar & Martin Clash with the CourtWe take you straight into Monday, May 2, 1692—one of the busiest days of the Salem witch-hunt—when arrests, examinations, depositions, and jail transfers collide. Reverend George Burroughs is seized in Wells, Maine as the net tightens, while Dorcas Hoar and Susannah Martin face John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin at Ingersoll’s Tavern amid chaos from the afflicted, sensational claims of spectral attacks, and taunting courtroom exchanges. Our close look at Martin’s sharp rebuttals raises the explosive question of whether the devil could wear an innocent person’s shape, a debate later taken up by Increase Mather and tied to the Witch of Endor. The day ends with Hoar, Martin, Lydia Dustin, and Sarah Morell ordered to Boston jail as the hunt accelerates.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:11 Arrests and Examinations Begin00:48 Dorcas Hoar Under Fire01:41 Dorcas Defies the Court02:39 Susannah Martin Examined03:43 Spectral Evidence Debate05:18 Courtroom Tests and Taunts06:34 Depositions and Copycat Claims07:59 Commitment to Boston Jail08:10 Burroughs Warrant Confirmed08:33 Wrap Up and Subscribe

Walpurgis Night, May Day, and a Spectral Attack: Salem’s May 1, 1692We open on May 1, 1692, as Elizabeth Hubbard claims an attack by the specter of Rebecca Jacobs, wife of George Jacobs Jr., with warrants soon to follow for George Jacobs Sr. and Margaret Jacobs and later complaints and arrests that send George Jacobs Jr. fleeing. From there, we trace how Walpurgis Night—rooted in Saint Walpurga’s May 1 canonization and older Northern European May Eve traditions—became linked with fears of witch power and sabbaths, including lore of gatherings on the Brocken. We connect those layered beliefs to New England’s own culture wars over May Day through Thomas Morton’s defiant Merry Mount maypole and William Bradford’s theological condemnation of revelers as “fairies or furies,” then follow the thread to John Endicott, his Salem Village land, and the still-fruiting Endicott pear tree near where Rebecca Nurse was arrested.00:00 May 1 1692 Update00:46 Walpurgis Night Today01:16 Origins and Traditions02:02 Witches and the Brocken02:57 Salem Echoes and May Day03:08 Merry Mount Maypole Clash05:09 Endicott and Salem Landmarks05:45 Podcast Teaser and Wrap

April 30, 1692: Six New Warrants and a Minister Hunted to MaineWe’re on Friday, April 30, 1692—day seven of Susannah Shelden’s afflictions—as the panic surges with fresh warrants for six new suspects: George Burroughs, Lydia Dustin, Susannah Martin, Dorcas Hoar, Sarah Morell, and wealthy merchant Philip English. Accusers Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam tie these names to torments suffered by Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr., Elizabeth Hubbard, and Susannah Shelden, while Susannah reports Martha Cory choking her. The paperwork tells its own story: Major Elisha Hutchinson’s rare, non-magistrate warrant reaches into Maine to seize former minister Burroughs; other warrants send constables across county lines for 79-year-old widow Lydia Dustin and bring Susannah Martin in from Amesbury as Philip English slips away. The day ends with another chilling claim—Sarah Good’s specter attacking Sarah Bibber’s four-year-old child.00:00 Welcome and Date00:19 Six New Warrants01:10 Burroughs Arrest Order01:47 Lydia Dustin Case03:14 English Morell Hoar05:17 Susannah Martin Warrant06:07 Sarah Good Specter06:34 Closing and Subscribe

Susannah Sheldon’s Sixth Day of Torment and Repairs at Boston JailWe take you straight into Friday, April 29, 1692, as Susannah Sheldon endures a sixth consecutive day of torment and reports a terrifying night visitation by the specters of Bridget Bishop, Mary English, Giles Cory, and Martha Cory. We follow her account as Martha presses the devil’s book, claims to be in Boston Prison, and describes a grotesque scene involving the “black man” and a creature like a hairless black pig, before Bridget and the “black man” boast that Bridget killed four women, naming two Fosters’ wives and John Trask’s wife. We also track the real-world fallout in Boston Jail, where Jailer John Arnold buys boards, locks, and nails to mend the jail and keeper’s house at a cost of seven pounds, five shillings, and nine pence.00:00 Show Introduction00:14 Susannah Sheldon Tormented00:28 Martha Corys Dark Vision00:56 Bridget Bishops Confession01:20 Boston Jail Repairs01:44 Thanks And Subscribe

April 28, 1692: Susannah Shelden’s Torment and John Willard AccusedWe’re back in Salem on Thursday, April 28, 1692, where Susannah Shelden’s account turns physical and threatening: Giles Cory and Mary English urge her not to eat, and Susannah says Cory strikes her, nearly chokes her, and holds her hands shut while mocking her. Philip English then appears demanding she sign his book, biting her when she refuses. At the same time, Ann Putnam Jr. reports a brutal assault by John Willard’s specter, including threats to kill her unless she writes in his book, and claims his apparition confessed to murdering her infant sister Sarah—followed by Sarah Putnam’s own ghost crying for vengeance. We also hear Lydia Wilkins, in a winding sheet, accusing Willard of involvement in her death.00:00 Daily Intro and Date00:15 Susannah Shelden Accusations00:56 Ann Putnam vs John Willard01:25 Putnam Baby Death Mention01:36 Lydia Wilkins Appears01:46 Subscribe and More PodcastsStatement of Susannah Shelden v. Philip English, Sarah Buckley, Mary Whittredge, Bridget Bishop, Giles Cory, Mary English, and Martha Cory: https://pem.quartexcollections.com/Documents/Detail/statement-of-susannah-shelden-v.-philip-english-sarah-buckley-mary-whittredge-bridget-bishop-giles-cory-mary-english-and-martha-cory/4696Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781107689619

Susannah Shelden Faces Bridget Bishop and . . . SatanWe follow Susannah Shelden deeper into the week-long string of spectral encounters she reported, landing on Wednesday, April 27, 1692, when Bridget Bishop, Philip English, Giles Cory, Mary English, and a black man in a high-crowned hat—identified as the Devil—arrive with books and pressure Susannah to touch and sign. Susannah resists, questions Bridget directly, and hears claims that Bridget has been a witch for more than 20 years, echoed again with even sharper precision. The scene turns unsettling as a snake crawls over Bridget, yellow birds and turtledoves are held to chests to suckle, and Bridget and Giles kneel to pray before Satan. The specters and the Devil bite Susannah and vanish, leaving a chilling snapshot of accusation, coercion, and vivid omen-like detail.00:00 Welcome to the Show00:11 Susannah's Week of Visions00:38 Bridget Bishop's Book01:01 Witch for 20 Years01:13 Snakes Birds and Doves01:30 Kneeling to Satan01:45 Bites and Farewell01:50 Subscribe and More Podcasts

Devil Books and a Ride from Hell: Susannah Shelden Names Her TormentorsMysterious specters harass Susannah Shelden with the Devil’s Book. The strangers then identify themselves as Sarah Buckley, her daughter Mary Whitteredge, and another woman calling herself Goodwife Whits, insisting she touch and sign. Our story turns grotesque as Susannah reports Sarah Buckley confessing to ten years of witchcraft and describing the Devil giving her two cat-like creatures to suckle. Refusal brings pinching, blows, and escalating threats until Sarah Buckley’s specter silences Susannah and carries her nearly a mile, claiming power over her and promising death if she won’t comply. A sudden, frantic rescue follows when William Shaw hears terrified cries in the woods and finds Susannah screaming and struggling. We trace it all to Susannah’s May 17, 1692 statement preserved in the Peabody Essex Museum’s Salem Witch Trials Collection.00:00 Kittens And Devil Books00:47 Buckley Confession Tale02:04 Strangers Name Themselves02:38 Pinching And Abduction03:21 Rescue In The Thicket03:43 Sources And Subscribe Statement of Susannah Shelden v. Philip English, Sarah Buckley, Mary Whittredge, Bridget Bishop, Giles Cory, Mary English, and Martha Cory

April 25, 1692: A Deal with John Willard—and Philip English’s SpecterWe lean into sports report energy while tracking the Salem crisis on Monday, April 25, 1692, and teasing our newly recorded conversation about an ESPN podcast released for the 50th anniversary of the Ergot Theory, soon arriving Saturday night on The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials. Two striking claims anchor the day: Susannah Shelden later deposes that Philip English’s specter pinched and threatened to kill her if she refused to touch the Devil’s book, and Ann Putnam Jr. later testifies that John Willard came to her house in person, denied hurting her, and heard an extraordinary offer—stop harming her and she wouldn’t complain. We highlight this as the lone instance we’ve found of an afflicted accuser proposing to let an accused witch off the hook.00:00 Sports Day Intro00:08 Ergot Theory Episode Tease00:32 Date and Hosts00:37 Philip English Specter Claim00:50 Ann Putnam Confronts Willard01:00 Recorder Date Confusion01:10 A Rare Offer of Mercy

Specters in the Pews: April 24, 1692Drawing on 1692 records, we trace how Dorcas Hoar is said to begin afflicting Elizabeth Hubbard on the night of April 24 and is linked by multiple witnesses to claims about choking her first husband, while Ann Putnam Jr. also reports being tormented that day. Susannah Shelden describes a startling scene in the Salem Town meetinghouse where Philip English’s specter allegedly pinches her alongside a Boston woman called Goody Wy, then follows her home with a black man carrying a book and offering relief if she will touch it. The day’s accusations culminate with Ann Putnam Jr. naming John Willard for grievous afflictions.00:00 Show Intro00:11 Sabbath Specter Disruption00:29 Dorcas Hoar Accusations00:56 Philip English in Meetinghouse01:17 The Devil’s Book Offer01:43 John Willard Afflicts Ann

Confessions, Fits, and a Red Communion: April 22–23, 1692We revisit two volatile days in Salem, as Deliverance Hobbs is brought in under a ruse, identified by Ann Putnam Jr., and pressured into a confession that names Sarah Wilds, Sarah Osborne, poppets, pins, and a “tall man” in a high-crowned hat—while the afflicted abruptly fall quiet. We track the court’s fixation on marks, rapiers, and spectral claims, then watch Sarah Wilds deny everything as the fits return and accusations multiply. William Hobbs faces both staged torment and a pointed turn toward religious suspicion before being sent to jail alongside others. Our timeline then shifts to April 23, where jailhouse questioning spins out a pasture meeting near Parris’s home: Burroughs preaching, red bread and wine, coercion to sign the Devil’s book, and Abigail Hobbs’s terrifying fit—setting up testimony that will echo for months.00:00 Two-Day Setup00:33 Deliverance Hobbs Examined02:08 Confession and Evidence03:59 Sarah Wilds in Court04:53 William Hobbs Questioned06:48 Depositions and Missing Records07:55 April 23 Witches Meeting09:31 Sabbath Details and Fallout09:47 Looking Ahead Testimony

A Day of Fits, Specters, and a Rare Release in SalemStep into April 22, 1692, as our Salem Witch Trials daily dive follows reports of a massive witches’ sabbath, complete with claims that minister specters like George Burroughs rallied companies of witches to topple New England churches. We track nine new arrests and a courtroom shocker: Nehemiah Abbott Jr. faces the afflicted, only to be cleared and released on the spot when daylight scrutiny dissolves their identification. The tension spikes with Mary Black’s examination, where a pinning “experiment” triggers cries of stabbing and sends her to jail. Wild testimony escalates as Benjamin Hutchinson recounts a spectral sword-and-fork rampage through Ingersoll’s Tavern. Finally, Mary Esty’s steadfast denials collide with violent fits and damning depositions—ending with her committed to jail alongside her sisters.00:00 Witches Sabbath Claims00:49 Show Intro and Arrests01:06 Nehemiah Abbott Twist03:25 Mary Black Pin Test04:42 Forks Rapiers and Specters07:13 Mary Esty Examined08:53 Depositions and Wrap Up

Nine New Accused and Thomas Putnam’s “Wheel Within a Wheel” Letter (April 21, 1692)We race through April 21, 1692 as accusations explode with nine new witchcraft suspects—William and Deliverance Hobbs, Nehemiah Abbott Jr., Mary Esty, Sarah Wildes, Edward Bishop Jr., Sarah Bishop, Mary Black, and Mary English—pushing the total accused to 23 and prompting Hathorne and Corwin to issue arrest warrants for examination at Ingersoll’s Ordinary. We also follow the chaotic jail questioning of Mary Warren as her story shifts about the Proctors, the “book,” coercion, fits, spectral pressure, and an alleged greenish ointment tied to the Bassett family. Elsewhere, Samuel Appleton summons witnesses in the Rachel Clinton matter. The day’s strangest turn is Thomas Putnam’s dramatic, scripture-laced letter to Corwin and Hathorne—widely read as aimed at George Burroughs—invoking “a wheel within a wheel” and “ears shall tingle.”00:00 Nine New Accused00:39 Meet the Suspects03:19 Arrest Warrants Issued03:55 Mary Warren Recants06:25 Spectral Evidence Debate07:14 Poppets and Ointment08:03 Other Court Business08:26 Putnam’s Bizarre Letter09:05 Biblical Clues and Burroughs

Jailhouse Confessions and Two Georges in the DarkWe take you straight into Salem jail on April 20, 1692, where Abigail Hobbs doubles down after her confession and names apparitions, a “witches’ sabbath,” and the Devil’s image-magic used to afflict the girls. Then the pressure shifts to Mary Warren as she describes signing the book, explosive claims about the Proctors, and the tense, live-wire moment when Giles Cory is brought in and her fits erupt as he turns to face her. The night turns even darker as two new specters surface: former minister George Burroughs in Ann Putnam Jr.’s terrifying encounter, and elderly farmer George Jacobs Sr. in Mercy Lewis’s midnight testimony. Our best hook: the claustrophobic, fast-moving jailhouse intrigue where accusations multiply and the next wave of suspects is already closing in.00:00 Confessions Continue00:20 Abigail Hobbs Details01:21 Devil’s Images and Sabbath01:57 Mary Warren Questioned03:08 Giles Corey Jailhouse Drama04:31 Specter of George Burroughs06:14 George Jacobs Appears06:58 Tomorrow’s New Suspects

April 19, 1692: Confessions, Specters, and the Salem Village ExaminationsWe head straight into the packed courtroom at Ingersoll’s Ordinary as magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin arrive from Salem Town to interrogate Giles Cory, Bridget Bishop, Mary Warren, and Abigail Hobbs—while Ezekiel Cheever and Samuel Parris take notes and the afflicted erupt. Two of the accused confess and two refuse, and then the witness statements begin: reports of spectral visits, pinching, choking, and relentless pressure to sign the devil’s book—followed by the striking moment when the afflicted claim relief as soon as a confession starts. Depositions from Benjamin Gould, Priscilla Chub, Elizabeth Hubbard, Margaret Knight, Mercy Lewis, Lydia and Elizabeth Nichols, and Mary Walcott drive the day’s narrative and reveal how quickly accusations spread from one name to the next. For the full examinations, our weekly podcast goes deeper into what unfolded on April 19, 1692.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:10 April 19 Court Examinations01:12 Witness Depositions Begin01:28 Gould Accuses Cory and Procter02:00 Hobbs Confession Stories03:40 Confession Stops Afflictions04:16 Nichols Sisters Testify05:08 Mary Walcott Sees Specter05:54 Hubbard vs Warren and Bishop06:51 Podcast Plug and Wrap

April 18, 1692: Four More Arrests, and a Name AddedFour more suspects were arrested on Monday, April 18, 1692—Giles Corey, Mary Warren, Abigail Hobbs, and Bridget Bishop—with Bishop named as a suspect for the first time in a warrant that shows her name inserted after the document was initially written. Earlier that day, John Putnam Jr. and Ezekiel Cheever complained that the four had bewitched Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Mary Walcott, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Three days earlier, Putnam’s infant had died, and he later tied the death to the Towne family, including Rebecca Nurse, Mary Esty, and Sarah Cloyce. Magistrates ordered Essex County marshal George Herrick to make the arrests and summon multiple witnesses, and the suspects were taken to Ingersoll’s Ordinary, a central Salem Village site used to stage prisoners and examinations.00:00 Daily Introduction00:09 Four Arrests Named00:25 Warrant And Complaints00:56 Putnam Infant Death01:22 Marshal Summons Witnesses01:40 Ingersoll Ordinary Setting02:01 Why Ingersoll Matters02:24 Next Day Examinations

Abigail Hobbs and the Devil’s NicknamesWe take you straight into Salem Village on Sunday, April 17, 1692, where the specter of rebellious Topsfield teen Abigail Hobbs unsettles the afflicted with her bold claims about the devil and her contempt for her stepmother, Deliverance. Our account follows testimonies describing Abigail’s strange acts—sleeping alone in the woods, declaring she sold herself “body and soul,” and even “baptizing” Deliverance by throwing water in her face—alongside chilling warnings about “Old Nick,” “Old Cratten,” and the “Old Boy.” As accusations mount, Deliverance will later say that at the meetinghouse she saw birds, cats, and dogs urging her to “come away,” and both she and Abigail will confess to witchcraft as their colorful tales deepen.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:05 Abigail Hobbs Appears00:24 Boasts of the Devil00:39 Wild Acts and Woods01:16 Threats and Old Nick01:46 Deliverance Accused02:06 Confessions and Tease

New Specters: Bridget Bishop and Mary Warren Enter the Salem Witch TrialsTwo new specters ignite Salem Village in April 1692, pushing the accused list to 14 in just seven weeks, with 10 already in custody and no slowdown in sight. We track the sudden rise of Bridget Bishop and Mary Warren as names tied to the afflictions of Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, Abigail Williams, Mary Walcott, and Elizabeth Hubbard. Bridget—living in Salem Town and long shadowed by a 1679 witchcraft trial despite acquittal—faces lurid claims of spectral assaults on men at night and accusations reaching back years, while often being confused with Sarah Bishop of the village tavern. Mary Warren’s role whipsaws from formerly afflicted to accuser to suspect, with Elizabeth Hubbard alleging Mary urged her to sign the devil’s book and joined forces with Bridget to torment her, as legal action against Bridget accelerates fast and dramatically.00:00 Daily Update Begins00:15 Two New Suspects00:59 Bridget Bishop Profile01:48 Old Rumors and Confusion02:33 Mary Warren Accused02:46 Disassemble Claim Fallout03:12 Testimony and What’s Next03:34 Watch These Cases

A Putnam Family Tragedy and Deaths Misattributed to WitchcraftWe share the heartbreaking moment that hit Salem Village on April 13, when Hannah Putnam and John Putnam Jr. lost their infant after calling for a doctor, later describing the baby’s death in a June 29, 1692 joint deposition as “cruel and violent.” We also trace how, amid reports of more than 70 people afflicted during the Salem Witch Trials, natural deaths were wrongly blamed on witchcraft—pointing to cases like Elizabeth Ballard and Timothy Swan in Andover and Daniel Wilkins in Salem Village, who were said to be afflicted before they died. We dig into how earlier deaths were retroactively pinned on the accused, including claims that Martha Carrier committed multiple murders based on spectral accusations.00:00 Daily Introduction00:05 Putnam Family Tragedy00:36 Afflictions and Deaths01:05 Retroactive Murder Claims01:17 Spectral Accusations Wrap Up

We’re in Salem Village on Thursday, April 14, 1692, where spectral appearances are treated as proof of a diabolical pact. We dig into Mercy Lewis’s September 9 deposition accusing Giles Cory, describing his specter as unnaturally strong, tormenting her, pressuring her to sign the Devil’s book, and beating her nearly to the point of breaking her back—leading her to declare him a “dreadful wizard,” even while he sits in prison. We also draw from Abigail Williams’s May 31 testimony against Martha Cory, claiming Martha’s apparition hauled, pinched, and tempted her to sign the Devil’s book and that she saw her at the Devil’s sacrament. We question how Abigail keeps appearing at these alleged devil gatherings while remaining an “afflicted” witness and the pastor’s niece.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:04 Spectral Evidence Explained00:30 Mercy Lewis vs Giles Cory01:02 Abigail Williams vs Martha Cory01:28 Why Abigail Sees Sabbaths

Our day begins with Samuel Parris trying to write as Marshal George Herrick arrives to inquire about John Procter, only for the room to erupt in interruptions as John Indian, Abigail Williams, and Mary Walcott repeatedly cry out that Procter is present—seen in the marshal’s lap, on a dog’s back, and alongside Elizabeth Procter and Sarah Cloyce—while fits escalate so violently that several men struggle to restrain John Indian. Parris forces John Indian and Abigail out to keep working, but Mary’s calm knitting gives way to sudden claims of pinching and choking, and she names a widening circle of alleged tormentors, including Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory, and Dorothy Good. As accusations flare, those named are transferred from Salem to the Boston jail, while Rowley’s Frances Wycomb points to Margaret Scott, setting a grim course toward September.00:00 Welcome and Date00:15 Parris Notes Procter01:15 Fits and Apparitions01:56 Walcott Accusations Escalate02:21 Prison Transfers to Boston02:38 Rowley Suspect Emerges02:52 Outcome and Execution

We’re back in Salem on Wednesday, April 13, 1692, pulling today’s report straight from sworn testimony and depositions. Abigail Williams’s records place Martha Cory, Elizabeth Procter, and Rebecca Nurse among the specters said to torment her—dragging, pinching, choking, and pressuring her to sign the Devil’s book, with lurid details like Procter nearly pulling her bowels out and Nurse urging her toward the fire, plus a claim of seeing Nurse at a witches’ sabbath beside a man in a high-crowned hat. Ann Putnam Jr. adds fresh accusations against Giles Cory and Abigail Hobbs for beating, biting, choking, and coercion to sign. The stakes turn personal as John Putnam Jr. recounts his two-month-old daughter’s violent fits, a doctor’s conclusion of an “evil hand,” and a prolonged, cruel death.00:00 Welcome and Date00:14 Sources and Records00:24 Abigail Williams Afflictions00:57 Spectral Attacks Described01:30 Ann Putnam Jr Targeted01:49 Putnam Infant Falls Ill02:46 Tragic Death Account

Grievously Tormented: April 11, 1692 and the Procters’ ExaminationWe dive into the raw testimony surrounding April 11, 1692, when accusations against Elizabeth and John Procter—and Sarah Cloyce—ignited a courtroom spectacle of “most grievous” torment. Witnesses and ministers report the afflicted collapsing into trances, choking, biting, pinching, and being pressured to sign the devil’s book, while observers swear the fits escalated the moment the Procters were examined. Depositions from the Putnams, Parris, and Ingersoll paint a scene where spectral assaults spread across the room, even shaping how onlookers interpreted a single gesture as supernatural proof. We also follow the drama beyond the hearing: a violent ride home with John Indian’s fits and a chilling claim of Elizabeth Procter’s specter traveling alongside Mary Walcott on the road back to the village.00:00 Secret Word Challenge00:22 April 11 Context00:39 Elizabeth Procter Accusations01:34 Afflicted Reactions in Court04:01 More Depositions Against Procter04:32 John Procter Targeted06:52 Joint Deposition Details08:09 Aftermath and Odd Incidents08:47 Wrap Up and M and Ms

We follow the Salem crisis as it surges from village drama into colony-level spectacle: John Indian reports being bitten and pinched by Sarah Good’s specter, Mercy Lewis wavers after naming Sarah Cloyce, and then the focus snaps to April 11 when the Governor’s Council packs the Salem Town meetinghouse for the examinations of Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth Procter. With Danforth and leading assistants present and Samuel Parris recording, accusations escalate fast—devil’s books, choking, a “white man,” and a reported witches’ sacrament with roughly 40 participants. Fits erupt on cue as the afflicted clash with the accused, and the spotlight widens to John Procter as a “wizard,” setting a deadly chain in motion. The day ends with arrests and removal to Salem Town jail—just part of what’s still to come.00:00 Daily Intro and Date00:13 April 10 Incidents01:08 April 11 Hearing Begins02:08 John Indian Accusations03:07 Afflicted Girls Testify03:38 Witches Sabbath Revealed04:48 Cloyce Faints and Chaos05:10 Elizabeth Procter Examined06:59 John Procter Implicated07:28 Spectral Tactics Explained08:32 Testimony and Prayer Test09:16 Arrests and Wrap Up

In this episode, we move beyond the fictionalized drama of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible to uncover the real Elizabeth Procter. Born into a family already shadowed by witchcraft accusations, Elizabeth faced the full weight of the 1692 panic. We trace her journey from a high-profile examination in front of the colony's top officials to her harrowing months in prison.The "Inheritance" of Suspicion: How Elizabeth’s grandmother, Ann Burt, influenced the community’s perception of her long before the trials began.The High-Stakes Examination: Details of the April 11th hearing where Elizabeth stood her ground against the afflicted girls and the highest court in Massachusetts.A Life-Saving Pregnancy: The legal reason Elizabeth survived the gallows while her husband, John, did not.The Fight for Restitution: Elizabeth's post-trial battle to reclaim her legal personhood and property after being declared "dead in the eyes of the law".Fact vs. Fiction: We debunk common myths regarding the Procter family's ages and relationships that were popularized by 20th-century drama."I know nothing of it, no more than the child unborn."Tune in to hear how one woman’s fierce determination allowed her to dismantle an unjust legal system and reclaim her life.What You’ll LearnFeatured Quotes

We track a pivotal shift on Friday, April 8, 1692, when Salem’s usual rush to warrants pauses and the Governor’s Council of Assistants decides to investigate the accusations themselves. After Jonathan Walcott and Nathaniel Ingersoll’s April 4 complaint against Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth Proctor sat without action, Salem magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin issue warrants only once the council schedules an April 11 hearing, ordering Marshal George Herrick to bring both women to the larger Salem Town meetinghouse—moving proceedings out of Salem Village. Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth travels with key assistants, marking the first major Boston government move in the witch-hunt and a sharp contrast to his portrayal in The Crucible. We also question where the “panic” was, arguing authorities sought careful felony prosecutions rather than haste.00:00 Welcome and Date00:21 Complaint and Delay00:51 Council Steps In01:03 Warrants and Venue Shift01:39 Danforth and the Assistants02:55 Why So Little Panic03:06 Accusations Timeline04:31 Slow but Serious Justice04:48 Closing ThoughtsLinksExamination of Sarah Cloyse and Elizabeth ProcterA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat LawsonSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegeHigh Quality Scans of Original Court Documents - Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We revisit April 7, 1692, when Benjamin Gould reportedly experienced another wave of spectral visitations—an account he later shared during the April 11 examinations of Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth Procter. We explore the striking list of alleged specters said to appear in his room, including Martha and Giles Cory, Elizabeth and John Procter, Sarah Cloyce, Rebecca Nurse, and the surprising inclusion of Rachel Griggs. We dig into why this is the only known moment Rachel Griggs is ever linked to spectral activity, how nothing ultimately came of the claim, and what her connection to physician William Griggs and afflicted Elizabeth Hubbard may suggest about the wider Salem story.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:11 Gould Sees Specters00:45 Rachel Griggs Mention00:53 No Charges Filed01:01 Doctor Griggs ContextExamination of Sarah Cloyse and Elizabeth ProcterA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat Lawson:Sign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegeHigh Quality Scans of Original Court Documents - Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

April 6, 1692: Pinches, Apparitions, and Deodat Lawson’s First Published AccountIn this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we take you to Wednesday, April 6, 1692, as reports of pinching and spectral torment continue to ripple through Salem Village. We discuss an April 19 deposition in which farmer Benjamin Gould says Martha and Giles Cory appeared at his bedside and he felt two pinches as they left, along with accounts that Abigail Williams was pinched by John Proctor’s shape and that Ann Putnam Sr. and Jr. remained afflicted. We also share the conclusion of Minister Deodat Lawson’s A Brief and True Narrative, newly finished and soon to be published, highlighting his detailed “remarks” about the afflicted and the accused—including the witches’ book, mutual “curing,” apparitions in the meetinghouse, the witch cake, and claims about the accused gathering in company—while exploring why Lawson’s report matters as an early surviving published description of events.00:00 Welcome and Date00:15 Corys Visit and Pinches00:51 Spectral Attacks Spread01:08 Lawson Narrative Begins01:32 Afflicted Persons Remarks03:04 Prayer and Signing Book03:36 Accused Persons Remarks03:43 Witch Cake and Examinations04:17 Satanic Muster and Rituals05:05 Keeble Statutes Criteria06:02 Why Lawson Report Matters06:33 Closing ThoughtsLinksA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat Lawson: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A49794.0001.001/1:3?rgn=div1;view=fulltextSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victims: https://change.org/witchtrialsFind My Massachusetts Legislators: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislatorThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCliis4vjMIUgg3wcA0pXeYQ/⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub: https://aboutsalem.com/salem-witch-trials-daily/⁠⁠The Thing About Salem: https://aboutsalem.com⁠⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts: https://aboutwitchhunts.com⁠⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780375706905⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781107689619⁠⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780190627805⁠⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781589791329⁠High Quality Scans of the Original Court Documents - Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection: https://pem.quartexcollections.com/collections/salem-witch-trials-collection

The latest updates from the Salem Witch Trials. We check in on Salem Village, where a committee purchases land for a future school building, and head to Boston, where former Salem Village minister Deodat Lawson returns home after his stay and finishes writing his account of events, with a pamphlet expected soon. We also report from the Boston Jail, where keeper John Arnold buys two blankets for an infant confined with her mother, witchcraft suspect Sarah Good. Join us again tomorrow as we continue following the unfolding Salem Witch Trials day by day.00:00 April 5 1692 Update00:13 Salem School Land00:18 Lawson Returns Boston00:38 Blankets at Boston Jail00:51 Wrap Up and TomorrowA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat LawsonSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegeHigh Quality Scans of the Original Court Documents - Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

April 4, 1692We walk through the latest developments in the Salem Witch-Hunt, as new testimony and complaints target recent suspects. We cover a reported spectral attack involving the shape of John Proctor afflicting Abigail Williams, then dig into multiple depositions against Rachel Clinton, including claims of meetinghouse disturbances, strange animal apparitions, a mysterious loss of beer, and a tense late-night confrontation followed by an apparent affliction and near-death of Betty Fuller. We also examine Mercy Lewis’s statements about being bitten, pinched, choked, and urged to “write in a book,” attributed to the shape of four-year-old Dorothy Good and to Sarah Osburn. Finally, we follow new complaints filed against Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth Proctor, including an early mention of John Indian among the afflicted.00:00 April 4 Overview00:23 Proctor Spectral Attack00:38 Boarman vs Clinton01:49 Beer Barrel Curse02:56 Edwards Livestock Losses04:38 Fuller Night Visit06:10 Dorothy Good Accusation06:34 Osburn Book Pressure06:54 New Complaint Filed07:19 Afflicted List UpdateA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat Lawson: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A49794.0001.001/1:3?rgn=div1;view=fulltextSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victims: https://change.org/witchtrialsFind My Massachusetts Legislators: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislatorThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCliis4vjMIUgg3wcA0pXeYQ/⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub: https://aboutsalem.com/salem-witch-trials-daily/⁠⁠The Thing About Salem: https://aboutsalem.com⁠⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts: https://aboutwitchhunts.com⁠⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780375706905⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781107689619⁠⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780190627805⁠⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781589791329⁠High Quality Scans of the Original Court Documents -Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection: https://pem.quartexcollections.com/collections/salem-witch-trials-collection

Did the afflicted girls fake their symptoms?We explore a striking claim from within the crisis itself: that the afflicted may have been “dissembling.” We revisit Sunday, April 3, 1692, when Samuel Parris read aloud a note Mary Warren had posted at the Salem Village meetinghouse, inviting the congregation to offer prayers of gratitude for her deliverance—yet the note’s contents are unknown because Parris never copied it into his church record book. We also examine the puzzling gaps in Parris’s records during the most active months of the trials, raising questions about what was happening in the meetinghouse. Finally, we tease an April 19 court record showing Elizabeth Hubbard accusing Mary Warren of making the “dissemble” remark, which we’ll dig into next.00:00 Afflicted Dissembling00:10 Daily Show Intro00:17 Mary Warren Note00:42 Parris Missing Records01:22 Silence Raises Questions01:38 Hubbard Accusation TeaseA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat LawsonSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegeHigh Quality Scans of the Original Court Documents -Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In today’s Salem Witch Trials Daily, we walk through Saturday, April 2, 1692, focusing on Abigail Williams’ claims that the specters of Elizabeth Procter and Rebecca Nurse repeatedly afflicted her in March and April, including being “grievously pinched” and tempted with fine things to sign the book. We also explore how accusers often listed dates of spectral attacks and why our day-by-day approach helps reveal what life was like during the witch-hunt. Elsewhere in Salem Village, we cover Mary Warren’s recovery and her meetinghouse note requesting prayers of gratitude—then hint at the serious drama that follows when, in Mary’s later testimony, Elizabeth Procter reportedly appeared to her that night in “her bodily person” and confessed to witchcraft.00:00 Daily Introduction00:14 Abigail's Spectral Attacks00:26 Why Track Day by Day00:59 Temptation to Sign the Book01:06 Mary Warren's Note01:27 Elizabeth Appears Bodily01:46 Spectral vs Physical AssaultsA Brief and True Narrative by Deodat LawsonSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In our April 1, 1692 episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we explore how the afflictions continue to mislead people in Salem and nearby communities through the reported testimony of Mercy Lewis. We recount her vivid description of being taken to a “glorious place” filled with light, where she saw a multitude in white robes singing from Revelation 5:9, Psalm 110, and Psalm 149—passages we connect to the religious climate of the moment, including Samuel Parris’s recent focus on Psalm 110. We also follow Mercy’s reluctance to leave the vision and discuss Deodat Lawson’s report that a recurring “white man” foretold the timing of future fits, which he claimed happened as predicted.00:00 April Fools Intro00:30 Mercy Lewis Vision01:02 Revelation New Song01:20 Psalm 110 Footstool02:09 Parris Sermon Context02:28 Psalm 149 Vengeance03:19 Lawson Closing NoteSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

Fast Day in Salem: Prayer, Fasting, and Abigail Williams’ Witch Feast VisionIn this episode, we follow Thursday, March 31, 1692, as Salem observes a Puritan fast day while Abigail Williams reports seeing about 40 witches feasting near the Salem Village parsonage of minister Samuel Parris and claims the specter of Rebecca Nurse attacks her. We explore how Puritans in New England viewed prayer and fasting—grounded in the Gospel of Mark—as powerful defenses against demonic possession and witchcraft, from private household fasts like those held for the Goodwin children in 1688 and the Parris family earlier in 1692, to government-ordered public fasts during crises, including the 1697 fast when Judge Samuel Sewall’s apology was read aloud. We also preview Abigail’s testimony pattern, listing multiple March and April dates when she says Nurse afflicted her.00:00 Fast Day in Salem00:33 Why Puritans Fasted00:54 Private Fasts and Afflictions01:31 Public Fast Days02:15 Witches Sabbath Allegation03:05 Rebecca Nurse Specter Claims03:18 Testimony Timeline Wrap UpLinksSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we cover Wednesday, March 30, 1692, when Rachel Clinton—arrested the day before—was slated for examination, though no record of that hearing survives. We focus on three depositions made against her that day: Thomas Burnam Jr. describes watching for a cow-milker he associates with Clinton and claims the figure vanished and later turned into a gray cat; Mary Fuller Sr. recounts Clinton confronting her at home amid a crisis involving her niece Betty Fuller, who later indicated Clinton was responsible; and Thomas Knowlton Jr. reports an incident at the John Rogers household involving demands for food, insults, a thrown stone followed by severe toe pain, and earlier claims about his daughter being harmed by Clinton’s specter. We also discuss how wartime language and imagery appear in these records.00:00 Welcome and Date00:15 Rachel Clinton Arrested00:43 Burnam Cow Milking Tale01:36 Fuller Family Accusation02:42 Knowlton Confrontation03:40 Specter Pricking Threats04:03 Warfare Imagery Context04:30 Closing ReflectionsSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We are happy to introduce Salem Witch Trials Daily, our new podcast that follows the 1692 Salem Witch Trials in real time, day by day, court date by court date, through the documented record. In Salem, Massachusetts, 19 people were executed, one man was pressed to death for refusing trial, and more than a hundred others were accused and imprisoned, leaving a lasting mark on American history. Building on the extraordinary listener response to this series when it launched within The Thing About Salem, the show now has its own dedicated feed, available wherever you get podcasts. Each micro-episode is tied to the actual calendar of 1692 and draws directly from primary sources like court documents, examination transcripts, petitions, letters, and contemporary accounts, alongside established scholarship and our own research. We also provide weekly companion blog posts and downloadable worksheets on aboutsalem.com for deeper, self-paced learning.00:00 Salem Tragedy 169200:28 Meet The Hosts00:38 New Daily Podcast01:14 How Episodes Work01:34 Primary Sources Focus02:01 Learn At Your Pace02:34 Why Accuracy Matters03:00 Subscribe And FollowSalem Witch Trials Daily – The Thing About Salem Podcast

In our March 29, 1692 episode, we track escalating turmoil in Salem Village and Ipswich as Elizabeth Proctor’s specter is said to assault Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis, and Samuel Nurse and John Tarbell address the prior day’s dispute at the Putnam house over who named Rebecca Nurse as Ann Putnam Jr.’s spectral attacker. We also follow the Essex County Court session in Ipswich, where routine cases mixed with a serious rape accusation against Mordecai Larkin, drawing testimony from two of Sarah Good’s sisters. The court appointed new constables, including Joseph Fuller, and we examine the missing witchcraft complaint against Rachel Clinton—known only through a warrant—along with her same-day arrest and overnight custody. We close by noting how required prosecution bonds were often not collected in witchcraft cases, making accusations dangerously easy.00:00 Welcome and Date00:26 Spectral Attack Reported00:33 Putnam House Finger Pointing00:50 Ipswich Court Session01:02 Mordecai Larkin Case01:16 Constables and Missing Complaint02:03 Rachel Clinton Warrant Details02:26 Bonds and Easy Accusations03:01 No Bond for Earlier ArrestsLinksSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We walk through Monday, March 28, 1692, highlighting a chilling behind-the-scenes look at how accusations formed—and how some family and community members pushed back. We focus on two confrontations: first, John Tarbell investigates who first named Rebecca Nurse at the Putnam household and finds the afflicted and Ann Putnam Sr. shifting blame and contradicting each other. Then, William Rayment and Daniel Elliot visit Ingersoll’s Tavern, where the girls seem calm until Elizabeth Procter’s name comes up, sparking claims of an apparition that Rayment challenges as false. We discuss the skepticism present from the start and how these inquiries expose inconsistencies and even admissions that some actions were “for sport.”00:00 Welcome and Setup00:42 Tarbell Questions Nurse Claim01:30 Finger Pointing Fallout02:52 Beverly Men Investigate03:10 Tavern Fits and Procter04:35 Sport Confession and Skepticism05:24 Closing TakeawaySign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We revisit Sunday, March 27, 1692, when Reverend Samuel Parris led Salem Village through two Sabbath services shaped by the recent “dreadful witchcraft” crisis and the public suspicion of alleged witches. We cover how his sermon warned that Christ knows how many devils are in the church, prompting Sarah Cloyce—sister of Rebecca Nurse—to flee the meetinghouse, and we note later claims about what witnesses said happened after she left. We also discuss how, after dismissing non-members on sacrament Sunday, Parris addressed the congregation about Mary Sibley’s role in the witch cake incident, calling it seeking the devil’s help against the devil, while still allowing her to remain in fellowship if she humbled herself and promised greater caution.00:00 Welcome and Hosts00:11 Sabbath in Salem00:41 Parris Targets Cloyce01:13 Seven Sins Listed01:48 Sacrament Sunday Dismissal02:03 Condemning the Witch Cake03:12 Mary Sibley Rebuked03:54 Church Response and ClosingSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We revisit Mercy Lewis’s reported afflictions and connect them to later depositions involving Elizabeth Proctor and Martha Cory. We also discuss a pivotal event recorded by former Salem Village minister Deodat Lawson in A Brief and True Narrative, describing how magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, along with minister John Higginson, examined the youngest witchcraft suspect at the prison keeper’s house. We explore Lawson’s account of what the child said about a “little snake” and what investigators claimed to observe, as well as the allegation that the familiar came from the child’s mother, Sarah Good, who was already jailed.00:00 Welcome and Date00:15 Mercy Lewis Afflictions00:36 Lawson’s Jail Visit00:54 Dorothy Good Examined01:24 Snake Familiar Accusation01:32 Wrap Up and Meaning

In this episode, we dig into Friday, March 25, 1692, as tensions surge in Salem Village and beyond. We discuss John Procter’s furious confrontation with Samuel Sibley at Walter Phillips’ Tavern over Mary Warren’s fits and his harsh skepticism toward the afflicted girls. Back in the village, we cover Ann Putnam Jr.’s reported violent spectral assault—attributed to Rebecca Nurse—with witnesses claiming visible bite marks and chain impressions, alongside Edward Putnam’s deposition against Nurse. In Salem Town, we examine Betty Parris’s severe seizures at Captain Stephen Sewall’s home and her account of a dark figure offering temptation, as well as the advice that seemed to end her fits. We also explore Rev. Samuel Parris’s discovery of Mary Sibley’s role in the witch cake and the church repentance he orchestrated.00:00 Welcome and Date00:23 Procter Confronts Sibley01:34 Skepticism Turns Violent02:08 Ann Putnam Chain Attack02:49 Betty Parris in Salem Town03:44 Temptation and Recovery05:13 Parris Learns Witch Cake06:20 Mary Sibley Public RebukeDeposition of Edward Putnam v. Rebecca NurseDeodat Lawson, Christ’s Fidelity the Only ShieldDeodat Lawson, A Brief and True NarrativeSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In our February 26, 1692 episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we look at the moment the Salem Witch Trials escalated when the first specific accusation of witchcraft was made. We discuss how neighboring ministers and gentlemen visited Samuel Parris at the Salem Village parsonage, witnessed Betty and Abigail’s afflictions, and concluded Satan’s hand was involved while advising caution. We also cover what was learned from Tituba during this visit, including her connection to the witch cake attempt and what she said about learning methods to discover witches. Finally, we follow how the afflicted girls’ finger-pointing began in the Parris household, setting the stage for arrests that would soon follow.00:00 Late February Recap00:45 Ministers Visit Parris01:31 Tituba And The Witch Cake02:00 First Accusations Begin02:44 What Happens Next02:49 Where To FollowSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victims: https://change.org/witchtrialsFind My Massachusetts Legislators: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislatorThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCliis4vjMIUgg3wcA0pXeYQ/⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub: https://aboutsalem.com/salem-witch-trials-daily/⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 7: Families, Geography, and the Machinery of Accusation, February 9-15, 2026: https://aboutsalem.com/week-7-blog-families-geography-and-the-machinery-of-accusation-february-9-15-2026/⁠The Thing About Salem: https://aboutsalem.com⁠⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts: https://aboutwitchhunts.com⁠⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780375706905⁠Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781107689619⁠⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780190627805⁠⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781589791329⁠Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection: https://pem.quartexcollections.com/collections/salem-witch-trials-collection

In this episode, we revisit Thursday, March 24, 1692, when Salem Village’s packed meetinghouse witnessed chaotic examinations that sent Rebecca Nurse and the very young Dorothy Good toward jail. We follow how accusations and courtroom theatrics escalated under Magistrates Hathorne and Corwin, with Reverend Parris recording the proceedings and the afflicted reacting violently to the accused’s movements. We also discuss the troubling scrutiny of Dorothy Good, including claims about bite marks and a “snake” on her finger, and the decision to imprison her. After the examinations, we cover former Salem Village minister Deodat Lawson’s lecture, “Christ’s Fidelity the Only Shield Against Satan’s Malignity,” his warnings about Satan and spectral affliction, and his rejection of countermagic in favor of prayer. We end with how depositions and suspicions—reaching even Giles and Martha Corey—deepened the village’s panic.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:27 Rebecca Nurse Arrives01:22 Accusations Erupt02:51 Spectral Chaos in Court04:37 Nurse Jailed and Defended04:55 Dorothy Good Examined06:04 Lawson Thursday Lecture06:58 No Countermagic Warning08:17 Evening Fallout and New Targets08:49 Day Ends in DreadExamination of Rebecca NurseStatement of Giles Cory Regarding Martha CoryDeodat Lawson, Christ’s Fidelity the Only ShieldDeodat Lawson, A Brief and True NarrativeSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

We focus on Wednesday, March 23, 1692, a day of intense spiritual conflict and the issuing of startling arrest warrants. We describe how Ann Putnam Sr. claims the specters of Rebecca Nurse and Martha Cory torment her, as Reverend Deodat Lawson observes the Putnam household during and after frightening fits and a dramatic confrontation with Nurse’s supposed apparition, including the use of a verse from Revelation. We also note that other afflicted persons report Nurse’s specter, adding to mounting accusations. We follow Edward and Jonathan Putnam as they travel to Salem Town to file complaints with magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, leading to warrants for both Rebecca Nurse and four-year-old Dorothy Good. We also touch on guarded voyages from Boston involving Captains John Alden and James Converse and a hostage exchange mission to St. John, Canada.00:00 March 23 Overview00:27 Putnam Fit Begins02:08 Scripture Versus Specter03:08 Other Girls Afflicted03:22 Warrants Issued04:08 Coastal Ransom MissionDeposition of Ann Putnam Sr. v. Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, and testimony of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory, and Sarah CloyceWarrant for the Apprehension of Rebecca NurseWarrant for the Apprehension of Dorothy GoodDeodat Lawson, A Brief and True NarrativeSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

In this March 22, 1692 episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we cover a Salem town meeting that resolves long-running tension between Salem and Salem Village by keeping the Village part of Salem while easing obligations on both sides: villagers no longer support the town’s ministers or maintain the town meetinghouse, and townspeople are no longer required to fund Village roads. We also discuss Ann Putnam, Sr.’s account of being tormented by the apparition of Rebecca Nurse, who urges her to sign a red book. Finally, we follow a committee visit to the real Rebecca Nurse, who is recovering from illness and praying for the afflicted, but is unaware of rumors accusing her until friends inform her she is a suspect, leaving her stunned as she insists on her innocence.00:00 Daily Introduction00:14 Town Meeting Compromise01:02 Ann Putnam Specter Attack01:58 Friends Visit Rebecca Nurse02:42 Accusation Revealed03:08 Nurse Proclaims InnocenceDeposition of Ann Putnam Sr. v. Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, and testimony of Ann Putnam Jr. v. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Cory, and Sarah CloyceDeodat Lawson, A Brief and True NarrativeSign the petition to exonerate Massachusetts witch trial victimsFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts⁠Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692Bernard Rosenthal, ed., Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt⁠Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience⁠Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under SiegePeabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Trials Collection

The Witch Cake That Sparked Salem’s PanicWe revisit the crisis in Reverend Samuel Parris’s Salem Village household in February 1692, when his daughter Betty and niece Abigail Williams suffered violent fits and a doctor declared they were under an “evil hand.” With no natural cure, neighbor Mary Sibley intervened while the Parrises were away, directing Tituba and John Indian to make a traditional witch cake using rye flour and the girls’ urine, then feed it to the family dog as a form of sympathetic counter-magic. We discuss the folk beliefs behind this practice and why it failed to help the girls, who soon began naming alleged tormenters. We also cover Parris’s furious reaction and his condemnation of using folk magic as sinful in the Puritan worldview.00:00 Fits in Salem Village00:35 Witch Cake Countermagic01:16 How the Cake Was Supposed to Work01:54 Accusations Ignite02:07 Parris Condemns Folk MagicSign the petition to exonerateFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsYouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts

We introduce the early events that sparked the Salem witch trials, focusing on January and February 1692 in Reverend Samuel Parris’s Salem Village household. Parris’s 9-year-old daughter Betty and 11-year-old niece Abigail began exhibiting alarming, inexplicable behaviors and violent physical afflictions. The family has tried prayer, fasting, and medical treatment without relief, and around February 24 a local physician (widely believed to be Dr. William Griggs) examines the girls and finds no natural cause, concluding they are under an “evil hand.” We focus on later accounts by ministers John Hale and Deodat Lawson describing preternatural fits, invisible biting and pinching, contorted movements, choking, and apparent conversations with unseen “appearances.” With the community quickly concluding the girls are bewitched, the episode turns toward how this diagnosis shifts attention from medicine to the question of who was responsible. We originally shared this episode on our podcast, The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials. Also check out The Thing About Witch Hunts for expert interviews and analysis of witch hunts past and present.00:00 Mysterious Afflictions Begin00:18 Bizarre Symptoms in Parris Home01:01 Prayer and Medicine Fail01:07 Doctor Declares Evil Hand01:34 Hale Describes Torments02:15 Lawson Witnesses the Fits03:10 Meaning of Bewitchment03:39 Who Is ResponsibleSign the petition to exonerateFind My Massachusetts LegislatorsThe Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily HubSalem Witch Trials Daily Course Week 7: Families, Geography, and the Machinery of Accusation, February 9-15, 2026⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts